MUSKOGEE (OK)
KOKI-TV, Fox-23 [Tulsa OK]
February 23, 2024
By Fox 23 new staff
A teacher’s assistant at St. Joseph Catholic School in Muskogee was arrested after a sexual abuse investigation, according to the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Dept.
On Feb. 20, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Dept. received a report of child sexual abuse involving 3 children.
Police say after investigation, Johnathan Wiedel was arrested on charges of rape in the first degree, rape by instrumentation, lewd acts with indecent proposals to a child under sixteen, and sexual abuse of children.
According to a press release from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa, St. Joseph Catholic School immediately excused Wiedel from all his parish and school duties until further notice.
“We have wonderful parish and school communities,” said Fr. Richard Cristler, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church and School in the press release. “I would ask that everyone join me in praying that this matter is resolved in a quick and just manner.”
The press release says the school is not aware that an incident occurred on parish or school grounds.